Pakistan Cricket in further crisis as Gillespie quits as coach just weeks ahead of the crucial 2-test series against South Africa.
Pakistan Cricket has been lurched into another crisis as Jason Gillespie has now quit his role as Pakistan’s test coach.
After a few days of lingering doubt, which culminated with Gillespie refusing to board his trip to South Africa to join the Pakistan Test team, this was formally verified. As tensions between the coach and the board reached an all-time low. Gillespie told the PCB that he had no intention of boarding his scheduled flight to South Africa. This was slated to depart at 6 AM Adelaide time on Friday. Instead, he chose to walk away. Aaqib Javed, who is now the interim coach of both white-ball teams. He will temporarily take over as Test coach for the series in South Africa.
Last month, Gillespie stepped down as Pakistan’s head coach, and Aaqib will take over in all formats. The PCB disputed the report at the time, indicating that Gillespie will coach for the two Test matches against South Africa but pointingly refusing to promise that he would fulfil his contract.
But things only got worse between the coach and the board, and Gillespie would never again be in charge of a Test match for Pakistan.
After the PCB declined to extend the contract of high-performance red-ball instructor Tim Nielsen. Gillespie was especially incensed and forced to think about his alternatives. Gillespie was disrespected by the PCB’s lack of respect and was outraged that he wasn’t informed or even consulted before that decision was made.
Nielsen told sources that although he was told his skills would no longer be needed. He was pleased to continue and would be available for Pakistan’s Test series against the West Indies at home and in South Africa next month.
This seems to have been Gillespie’s last straw. He informed the board that he would not be travelling under the current conditions. It is unknown if the PCB has contacted him to get him to fly. According to a person close to Gillespie, the PCB has not contacted him in the last 24 hours.
In any case, a relationship that had been steadily deteriorating over the previous few months had finally reached breaking point. With much hoopla, Gillespie and Gary Kirsten were hired by the PCB in April. According to chairman Mohsin Naqvi, Gillespie’s “stellar track record” preceded him.
However, the board has changed its mind about the Australian since October. It had originally removed him from the Test team’s selection panel. Since it wasn’t what he signed up for, he felt he was only a “matchday analyst” as a result. He was not informed of the decision to not renew Nielsen’s contract. He is also said to have had little influence over the Test team for the South Africa tour.
Gillespie’s resignation may allow the PCB to avoid having to pay out the whole amount of the remaining contract, which would have been required if they had chosen to fire him. Even after it became apparent that the PCB no longer wanted him there. It was thought to have played a role in Gillespie’s early resistance to resigning.